LTFRB now targeting Tripid, easyCar

MANILA, Philippines – Uber and GrabCar units with pending applications are exempted, as of now, from the nationwide clampdown on unregistered online ride-sharing service providers that started Friday, August 21.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier announced that it will apprehend ride-sharing service providers who have not secured the necessary franchise or provisional authority yet. (READ: Bam Aquino seeks to clarify new policies on Uber, GrabCar)

But according to LTFRB executive director Bobbit Cabrera, “Uber and GrabCar operators who have already applied for Transportation Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) accreditation and submitted their complete documents will still be allowed to operate.”

Cabrera said in a phone interview Friday that this is while the agency focuses on apprehending vehicles that are with Tripid and easyCar, “as these ride-sharing apps have not applied for TNC (Transportation Network Company) accreditation yet.”

“These are companies that opt not to register with LTFRB, which places their passengers in an unsafe situation,” he added.

“Since TNVS applications [of most Uber and GrabCar units] are being processed, better to be a little lenient on them while we are operating on other unaccredited TNCs. But after this, we will go and check the files of Uber and GrabCar and start operating on those without provisional authority yet,” Cabrera further explained.

@VVough @chriseedelapaz As long as their names are in the database that was submitted to us by Grab and Uber.

— LTFRB_CHAIRMAN (@LTFRB_Chairman) August 21, 2015

As of 5 pm, Cabrera said LTFRB has not apprehended a single unit yet. (READ: LTFRB clarifies Premium Taxi timing, unregistered Uber clampdown)

The Philippine transport regulator said it received “more or less 1,500 TNVS applications from Uber and GrabCar.”

Under Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01, owners of private vehicles that operate as PUVs will be fined P200,000 ($4,346.90) each, and be impounded for 3 months. (READ: Taxis beware: Gov’t introduces 4 new transport categories)

On Wednesday, August 19, LTFRB authorized US-based Uber as the second company in the Philippines to operate under new rules governing application-based ride-sharing service providers. (READ: LTFRB to start unregistered Uber, GrabCar clampdown)

GrabCar secured its accreditation as TNC in July. (READ: GrabCar becomes Philippines’ first authorized ride-sharing app)  — Rappler.com